Lavatory



L, R SVHTH EL E939.

LAVATORY Filed Sept. 24, 1937 2 Sheets-Shee l Patented Jan. 31, 1939UNiTED STATES eric Claims.

This invention relates generally to a lavatory and in particular relatesto a lavatory which is designed for use in connection with modern bathrooms, in which it is desirable to conserve space 5 as well as provide asightly arrangement of the facilities therein.

The principal object of my arrangement is to provide a lavatory arrangedfor normal enclosure in a cabinet or closet, but provided with drivemechanism 'to slide the lavatory from the cabinet for use; the cabinetbeing preferably recessd in a wall, whereby the same and the enclosedlavatory are out of the way and not visible when the lavatory is not inuse.

Another object of my invention is to provide an effective electric drivemechanism to advance the lavatory from or retract it into the enc-losingcabinet.

An additional object of the invention is the inclusion of automaticallyactuated control mechanism to open the flush water flow-valve with theadvance of the lavatory from the cabinet and to close such valve withretraction of the lavatory. Thus, continuous flushing of the bowl, whenthe lavatory is in use, is automatically accomplished.

A further object of the invention is to produce a simple and inexpensivedevice and yet one which will be exceedingly effective for the purposefor which it is designed.

These objects I accomplish by means of such structure and relativearrangement of parts as will fully appear by a perusal of the followingspecification and claims.

In the drawings similar characters of reference indicate correspondingparts in the several views:

Fig. lis a side elevation of the device as enclosed within the cabinet.

Fig, 2 is a side elevation showing the lavatory as advanced from thecabinet.

Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic illustration of the electric circuit employed.I

Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional view of the water flow valve.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the front of the cabinet and as arrangedwhen the cabinet is enclosed in a wall.

Referring now more particularly to the characters of reference on thedrawings, the device comprises a bowl I, preferably of the silent iiushtype, mounted on a suitable base 2 of box-like construction. The base isprovided with small wheels 3 which ride on spaced, parallel tracks 4secured to the floor 5 and extending into a cabinet 55 6, preferablyrecessed in a wall 1. The cabinet is provided with doors 8 which aresecured along their outer side edges to the cabinet by spring hinges 9which normally maintain the doors in closed position, as shown in Fig.5.

The bowl is provided with a rigid discharge passage or duct lil whichprojects from the rear of the base 2 and is connected to a sewer pipe llby means of a flexible tube l2, preferably a ilexible metallic tube.This flexible tube l2 extends through a slot i3 cut in the floor from apoint adjacent the front of the cabinet to the rear thereof.

A water supply pipe Eli projects vertically into the cabinet adjacentone side thereof and is provided at its upper end with a Valve casing l5in which is disposed a rotary plug Valve iii. A flexible hose il leadsfrom the outlet side of valve casing l5 to a water intake connection i8on the rear of the bowl. The plug valve i6 is connected, on one side ofthe casing l5, to a radial arm t9 which is normally maintained in aVvalve closing position by a tension spring 2li. A strike finger 2l isalso secured to the rotary plug valve H5 and is normally in a dependingposition when the valve is closed under the influence of spring 2l. Acam arm 22 is mounted on the base2 at its rear end and is adapted toengage finger 2l and open valve I6 upon advance of the lavatory from thecabinet and to separate from the finger and permit the valve to closeupon retraction of the lavatory into the cabinet.

The drive means to effect movement of the lavatory to and from thecabinet is constructed as follows:

Two pairs of spaced sprockets 23 are journaled beneath the floor andunderneath the cabinet, corresponding sprockets having shafts in commonand which shafts are supported on spaced parallel frames 24. Each pairof sprockets is connected together by an endless chain 25, the chains 25being disposed in substantially the plane of the sides of base 2. Arms26 are connected to the sides of the base adjacent the rear thereof andextend through parallel slots 2l in the floor to fixed connection withthe endless chains 25. A reversible motor 2li drives the sprockets andendless chains by means of a drive belt B.

The circuit for the actuation of motor 28 comprises wires 29 leadingfrom the power wires 30 to two terminals of the reversible motor. Otherwires 3l tap wires 29 and lead to a pair of the terminals of afour-terminal reversing switch 32 mounted on the front of the cabinet.Another wire 33 leads from a third terminal of the switch to oneterminal of a spring blade switch 3d 55 mounted in the rear of thecabinet. A wire 35 extends from the other terminal of switch 34 to thereversible motor 28. Another Wire 36 connects the remaining terminal ofswitch 32 with another spring blade switch 31 mounted adjacent the frontof the cabinet. The switch 31 is in turn connected by wire 38 to thewire 35 leading to the reversible motor 28. A contact or cam arm 39 isiixed on base 2 and is so arranged as to engage an insulated strike head40 on switches 34 and 31 and to open the same when the lavatory reachesa fully retracted or fully advanced position respectively.

Operation In normal position and when not in use, the lavatory isenclosed within the cabinet and the doors are closed; the two-way switch32 then being in a closed position relative to wire 33, and the switch34 in an open position, as shown in Fig. 3.

To advance the lavatory from the cabinet, the reversing switch 32 isclosed (relative to wire 36) to actuate the reversible motor in suchdirection that with movement of chains 25 and attached arms 26, the base2 and bowl I will be advanced from the cabinet for use; the motor 28being stopped when arm 39 engages and opens switch 31 and after apredetermined advancing movement has occurred.

When so advanced, the doors are swung apart and remain apart and inengagement with the base until the lavatory is retracted into thecabinet. Too, when the lavatory is advanced, a continuous flushing ofthe bowl will be eiiected, as valve I6 will be automatically opened ashereinbefore described. The flexibility of tube l2 and hose l1 permitsthe lavatory to move as described without undue restriction.

The lavatory is returned to the cabinet by merely reversing the positionof switch 32, causing a reversal of motor 28. When fully retracted, arm39 opens switch 34 stopping the motor. Also, with such retraction, cam22 moves away from valve I6 and permits it to close and thus shut olfthe water supply to the bowl.

From the foregoing description it will be readily seen that I haveproduced such a device as substantially fullls the objects of theinvention as set forth herein.

While this specification sets forth in detail the present and preferredconstruction of the device, still in practice such deviations from suchdetail may be resorted to as do not form a departure from the spirit ofthe invention, as defined by the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and useful anddesire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In combination, a cabinet, a lavatory normally disposed within thecabinet, means mounting the lavatory for sliding movement in and out ofthe cabinet, drive means to so move the lavatory, a water supply pipeadjacent the cabinet, a normally closed valve in said pipe, a flexibleconduit connecting the supply pipe with the bowl of the lavatory andmeans operative upon movement of the lavatory out of the cabinet to openthe valve and maintain the same open while the lavatory remains out ofthe cabinet.

2. A lavatory assembly comprising a cabinet, a toilet unit normallydisposed in the cabinet, means mounting the toilet unit for slidingmovement in and out of the cabinet, a water supply pipe disposed in thecabinet but out of the path of movement of the toilet unit, a normallyclosed valve for the pipe, a flexible conduit leading from the valve tothe toilet unit, a valve control element on the valve exteriorlythereof, and a member mounted on the unit and arranged to engage andactuate said valve control member upon movement of the unit from thecabinet.

3. An assembly as in claim 2 in which said valve control elementcomprises a radial lever, a spring connected with said lever andarranged to normally hold the lever in a valve closing position, saidmember on the unit being disposed to engage said lever and move the sameagainst the action of the spring to a valve opening position when theunit is advanced from the cabinet.

4. A lavatory assembly comprising a cabinet, a base member above thefloor of the cabinet, a toilet bowl unit mounted on and rigid with themember, means mounting the member for sliding movement into and out ofthe cabinet, a fixed sewer pipe below the floor of the cabinetterminating in an upwardly facing end disposed substantially midway ofthe length of the cabinet, and a iiexible conduit connecting said end ofthe pipe and the toilet unit at the back; the floor of the cabinethaving an opening for the passage and flexing movement of the conduit.

5. A lavatory assembly comprising a cabinet, a base member above theiioor of the cabinet, a toilet bowl unit mounted on and rigid with themember, means mounting the member for sliding movement into and out ofthe cabinet, a fixed sewer pipe below the floor of the cabinetterminating in an upwardly facing end disposed substantially midway ofthe length of the cabinet, the base member having depending sides, adischarge pipe rigid with and depending from the bottom of the bowlbetween the sides of the base member and extending rearwardly to atermination adjacent the rear end of the base member and above the floorof the cabinet and a flexible conduit connecting the ends of the pipes;the floor of the cabinet having an opening for the passage and iiexingmovement of the conduit.

LENDAL R. SMITH.

